Crowd Calendar

[tndisneyfan]

I'm needing recommendations for a crowd calendar that has the best parks and parks to avoid. I've used Kenny the Pirate in the past but would like to try something different.

Sorry if this was posted in the wrong place. I've been off the boards for a while.

 

[StageTek]

Touring Plans has a nice one. I check Undercover Tourist and WDWprepschool, too. But I find Kenny's the best one.

 

[Klayfish]

There are no good crowd calendars, they have no really accuracy value. Just plan to go where you want, when you want.

 

[IrishNYC]

I prefer TP. Kenny is very biased and opinionated on his predictions - all EMH parks are automatically "worst" for him, which isn't always true.

 

[OneinThree]

There are no good crowd calendars, they have no really accuracy value. Just plan to go where you want, when you want.

Probably this.

With very few exceptions (predominately late summer), Disney is always busy these days. If you look at a 3 and a 9 on the calendars and think, "Wow; 3 should be really nice", you'd be wrong. As a local, I've been on days which called for heavy days that were quite nice and vice versa. You're best off going when it best suits your life schedule IMO, but I will say that there is some valuable info to be had by the experts. The best of which might be how to handle EMH days, which really does seem accurate based on real experience.

 

[JennyDrake]

There are no good crowd calendars, they have no really accuracy value. Just plan to go where you want, when you want.

Agree. It's crowded all the time anymore. MK will always be a nightmare by 1:00 pm and on Saturdays. During F&G avoid Epcot on Saturdays (school trips). Avoid Epcot LIKE THE PLAGUE on weekends during F&W. Rope drop remains your best friend, always.

 

[Shanti]

WDW crowd patterns have changed so much in the past few years that the crowd calendars are just guessing now.

 

[SaintsManiac]

You cannot put a number or a color on a park day. Too many variables.

 

[Tksolomom]

Josh from easywdw just did a best/worst day for MK and AK. Other than Saturdays being the worst for MK, the days seem to mostly be random. Weekends for Epcot, especially during festivals are bad too. During less busy times, the parks may have less staff and actually have longer lines. MK is always less busy on party nights because the park closes at 6. If you have don’t care about the fireworks, and have park hoppers or planning on leaving early anyway, those might be good days.

If you are offsite, avoid the parks with EMH or if you aren’t going to be there early enough to use them. EMM mornings are always good to go to if you are early enough. I don’t find the parks that much busier that it outweighs the short morning lines.

I do use Undercover Tourist for a guide though and for their touring plans to get an idea. I have never used Kenny the Pirate, but hear that is a great site for character M&G.

Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Louie7080]

Touring plans usually does a good job. I just looked up the resort crowd level numbers starting Sunday June 24th through yesterday July 2nd. On one of the days they were quite off by 2 levels (predicted less of a crowd than there actually was) but on 6 of the days they were spot on and for 2 days they were off by just one level (predicted more of a crowd than there was). There have been pockets of time here or there that they mess up on but on whole I think they do a good job. I often look at their numbers to see how close they were.

 

[gharter]

I use Kenny the Pirate and Touring Plans.
In the end, it doesn't really matter what the crowd schedule says, we plan days on what we want to do.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

The best crowd calendar is The Weather Channel. Rain = lower crowds

 

[Nancyg56]

I use Kenny the Pirate and Touring Plans.
In the end, it doesn't really matter what the crowd schedule says, we plan days on what we want to do.

I use both as well, and then do exactly the same as you: Plan what works for us.

I like TP and start there. It is only a guide though, the parks are always busy now.

 

[Ladyandthepuppies]

There are no good crowd calendars, they have no really accuracy value. Just plan to go where you want, when you want.

Len Testa from Touring Plans went on The DIS Unplugged podcast to discuss how the Touring Plans forecast works and his views on why they've been wrong in the past. It was a bonus episode on March 6th. I thought it was really interesting to hear all the factors they account for in their model when trying to predict the crowds. As a PP said, Touring Plans posts "how we did" updates on their predictions vs actual crowd numbers, and they are usually within 2. If you're like me and aren't certain of which weeks are the best to visit, I do find the crowd calendar really helpful.

 

[MusicalAstronaut]

Probably this.

With very few exceptions (predominately late summer), Disney is always busy these days. If you look at a 3 and a 9 on the calendars and think, "Wow; 3 should be really nice", you'd be wrong. As a local, I've been on days which called for heavy days that were quite nice and vice versa. You're best off going when it best suits your life schedule IMO, but I will say that there is some valuable info to be had by the experts. The best of which might be how to handle EMH days, which really does seem accurate based on real experience.

I've also found that sometimes the crowds are WAY better on Tuesdays/Wednesdays too. I like to take long weekends and head home on Tuesday, and I can get so much done the morning I'm leaving. I would say no matter when you go, try to be there on weekdays.

 

[Woody412]

Touring plans usually does a good job. I just looked up the resort crowd level numbers starting Sunday June 24th through yesterday July 2nd. On one of the days they were quite off by 2 levels (predicted less of a crowd than there actually was) but on 6 of the days they were spot on and for 2 days they were off by just one level (predicted more of a crowd than there was). There have been pockets of time here or there that they mess up on but on whole I think they do a good job. I often look at their numbers to see how close they were.

What are you comparing them to? Does Disney release the actual crowd levels?

 

[SaintsManiac]

Len Testa from Touring Plans went on The DIS Unplugged podcast to discuss how the Touring Plans forecast works and his views on why they've been wrong in the past. It was a bonus episode on March 6th. I thought it was really interesting to hear all the factors they account for in their model when trying to predict the crowds. As a PP said, Touring Plans posts "how we did" updates on their predictions vs actual crowd numbers, and they are usually within 2. If you're like me and aren't certain of which weeks are the best to visit, I do find the crowd calendar really helpful.

His interview was discussed and debated ad nauseum on here. Some of us still choose to ignore the predictions.

 

[anniemae]

There are no good crowd calendars, they have no really accuracy value. Just plan to go where you want, when you want.

This. The calendars are not very accurate anymore IMO. Too many variables. This is why Josh stopped doing them. It is just impossible to predict anymore. Too much to account for like parties, events, weather, school vacations, holidays etc. I remember once a few years back, MK was packed and nobody knew why. None of the calendars predicted it, there were huge lines of cars heading in and huge lines just to go through bag check. Turns out there was a Jewish holiday thad nobody accounted for and many schools had three days off. Disney is always crowded now. Just plan for heavy crowds and be happy with anything less. Go where you want when you want

 

[dreiwhit]

Agree. It's crowded all the time anymore. MK will always be a nightmare by 1:00 pm and on Saturdays. During F&G avoid Epcot on Saturdays (school trips). Avoid Epcot LIKE THE PLAGUE on weekends during F&W. Rope drop remains your best friend, always.

Sadly, I don't think there's a way for crowd calendars to be accurate anymore. They were way off last January and February.

I try to avoid MK AND Epcot on Mondays. It seems like Epcot is most crowded on Mondays, probably from folks not going to MK on Mondays.

 

[Average Joes]

I think it was TP that discussed that Disney has also been more diligent at reducing staffing levels when it is less busy. With FP bookings they can better predict crowds. Rides are not running at full capacity. Your waits for a 7/10 day might not be that different from a 4/10 as it would in the past. I am sure many of us can recall a ride like Pirates or Space operating only one side but the wait was 45+ minutes.